This web page provides information in on the activities of the Office, views of the IMF staff, and the relations between The Gambia and the IMF. Additional information can be found on The Gambia and IMF country page, including official IMF reports and Executive Board documents in English and French that deal with The Gambia.

At a Glance

Current membership: 188 countries

The Gambia joined the Fund in September 21, 1967. The Gambia accepted the obligations under Article VIII, Sections 2(a), 3, and 4, of the Fund’s Articles of Agreements on January 21, 1993. It maintains an exchange system that is free of restrictions on the making of payments and transfers for current international transactions.

Office Activities

The growing role of the private sector in Africa has been credited by the head of the IMF's African Department for sustaining foreign investment during the recent global slump. In an interview, Antoinette Sayeh says Africa has demonstrated a new openness.

Stronger monetary and budget policies, together with structural reforms in many countries, helped Africa come through the global financial crisis better than in the past, IMF First Deputy Managing Director John Lipsky said.

Regional Economic Outlook

Sub-Saharan Africa: Multispeed Growth

October 2016

Economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa this year is set to drop to its lowest level in more than 20 years, reflecting the adverse external environment, and a lackluster policy response in many countries. However, the aggregate picture is one of multispeed growth: while most of non-resource-intensive countries—half of the countries in the region—continue to perform well, as they benefit from lower oil prices, an improved business environment, and continued strong infrastructure investment, most commodity exporters are under severe economic strains. This is particularly the case for oil exporters whose near-term prospects have worsened significantly in recent months. Sub-Saharan Africa remains a region of immense economic potential, but policy adjustment in the hardest-hit countries needs to be enacted promptly to allow for a growth rebound.

Departmental Papers on Africa

The Departmental African Paper Series covers research on Sub-Saharan Africa conducted by International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff, particularly on issues of broad regional or cross-country interest. The views expressed in these papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

IMF Opens Africa Training Institute in Mauritius

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on June 26, 2014 opened the Africa Training Institute (ATI) in Ebene, Mauritius, adding an important regional center to a global network of centers helping to develop countries' policymaking capacity by transferring economic skills and best practices.